Lonzo Ball has an ‘it’ factor Celtics may want to grab before Lakers

The general consensus for the upcoming draft is that Washington’s Markelle Fultz will go No.1 overall to the Boston Celtics but recent reports claim that the Celtics are open to drafting UCLA’s Lonzo Ball.

Lonzo Ball to Boston?

Although this scenario still seems unlike due to the fact Markelle Fultz is highly regarded as the overall best prospect in the draft, Boston seems to be keeping its options open.

Celtics president of basketball operations Danny Ainge knows very well where Lonzo Ball’s preference is, but Sean Deveney of Sporting News reports Ainge is determined to make the best choice for Boston a month from now in spite of what Ball wants.  

"“No, not at all,” Ainge said when asked if Ball’s desire to play for the Lakers would affect the Celtics’ decision. “We understand that he’s from Los Angeles, but we’re going to draft whoever can help the Celtics regardless of where the players want to play.”"

Ainge is correct in his assessment of draft choice. Factoring in what the players actually want will do an organization no good, especially if they truly believe a player is best suited for them. But what Ainge’s revelation reveals is that Lonzo may not be on the board for the Los Angeles Lakers.

Yes, this outcome is still a stretch, especially considering Ball probably won’t work out for any other team than the Lakers, however, if it were to happen that would mean Fultz would drop to L.A. at No.2.

Ball has the undeniable gift of vision and the ability to make the players around him better. He averaged 7.6 assists per game as a freshman, by far the most out of any other first-year player. He even shot better than 50 percent from the field, which is very impressive.

But Fultz has a full array of skills and weapons that make him a better overall player than Ball. So on the slight chance Boston does opt for Lonzo, the Lakers would happily grab Fultz off the board.

But the bottom line is this. With the No. 2 pick in the draft, the Lakers will have their go at a potential future all-star.  Whether Ball is picked, like most believe, or Fultz miraculously is passed on by the Celtics, L.A. will be getting a winner.

The most important thing is that their pick needs to have the “it” factor. Many professional basketball players have agreed that Fultz seems to have the whole package, but point out that Ball seems to have that winning trait and that’s what the Lakers need most.

So what that Lonzo has an overbearing, loudmouth father. If he has that “X” factor that turns good players into great players, then he’s the best fit for L.A. It could be this “it” factor of Ball’s that has the Celtics open to drafting him before the Lakers can.

So if he’s unavailable when the Lakers are on the clock, there’s no better player to select than Fultz, but if he’s still on the board, Ball will be the right choice for L.A.

Related Story: LaVar Ball Guarantees Son Lonzo Will Be a Laker

Do you think Lonzo Ball has an “it” factor the Boston Celtics may want to grab before the lakers or do you think Markelle Fultz is still a favorite to go No.1? Would the Lakers be better off in the long run with Fultz or Ball? You know what to do. Let us know what you think in the comments below!